Historians in the Job Market
Historians in the Job Market
It probably sounds familiar to you as an aspiring historian: jokes about job opportunities and future prospects. The reality is more nuanced and it is by no means certain that you will end up in front of the class. On the contrary. On this page you can find inspiration based on the experiences of former history students. They tell you about their careers and the road to them. These stories can give you a better idea of what career options are out there and maybe even inspire you for the path you want to take yourself.
Bibi Koekkoek tells us about her Master: History and Heritage Consultancy. Swipe to hear her story!
RUG: "History and Heritage Consultancy offers a broad range of methodological and research courses, which allows for a specialization in your personal field of interest and flexibility in your planning. You learn to interrogate the complexities of history and heritage present in buildings, objects, practices, customs and opinions of the past. You also develop relevant professional skills—for example, by completing assignments for public or heritage institutions, such as the Groninger Museum—which prepare you for immediate employment in the field of history and heritage."
Arjen Bloem tells us about his Master: Un/sustainable societies: Past, Present and Future. Swipe to hear his story!
RUG: "Issues such as global inequality, environmental changes and democracy all have a long history. Knowledge of their history contributes to a better-informed public, concrete solutions and more sustainable policies. Therefore, you learn to identify, situate and analyse historical trends, to acquire in-depth historical knowledge as well as advanced skills and methods to conduct historical research, and to interrogate the complex interrelation of the past and present. With the aim of learning how to ask relevant questions and to formulate historical arguments in current debates, you will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for connecting the past to current issues and how to conduct debates on future challenges."
Jorrit Top tells us about his Master: Politics, Organisations and Learning Histories. Swipe to hear his story!
RUG: "The track focuses on the interconnection of politics and policy, democracy and legitimacy, and on the implementation and legal aspects of policy. You will contribute to solving societal problems by implementing historical knowledge and research by developing Learning Histories. This theory-based but practically applicable method requires the writing of a learning history that reveals certain blind spots within an organization's past by analyzing sources and conducting interviews. During your studies, you will be assigned to an organization to develop and practise these skills in a practical manner."
Sven Betjes tells us about his Research Master: Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Swipe to hear his story!
RUG: "Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies offers a multidisciplinary and international environment. Depending on your background and research interests, you can choose to concentrate on one or more of the areas (History, Literature or Classics) within this interdisciplinary programme.
You can design your own research profile to fit your interests. The programme provides specialist, tailor-made tutorials and courses on theory and method. You collaborate with our top researchers on their academic projects and can spend a study period abroad at one of our partner universities. To complete your studies you write an MA thesis on a subject of your own choice and specialisation, which will give you a firm basis for further studies at PhD level."
